Snowstorm hits US Northeast, triggering thousands of flight delays
(VOVWORLD) - A mix of snow and ice bore down on the US Northeast early on Saturday, disrupting post-holiday weekend airline traffic and prompting officials in New York and New Jersey to issue weather emergency declarations.
 A Delta Air Lines aircraft takes off during a snowstorm at Greater Rochester International Airport in Rochester, New York, the US, on December 26, 2025. (Photo: Joseph Frascati/REUTERS) |
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement that public safety is her top priority and she continued to urge extreme caution throughout the duration of this storm.
According to data from the Weather Prediction Center as part of the National Weather Service, by early Saturday, about 15 to 25 centimeters of snow had fallen across an area from Syracuse in central New York to Long Island in the southeast of the state, as well as Connecticut. In New York City, more than 10 cm of snow fell overnight on Saturday night—the heaviest snowfall since 2022.
According to the leading flight-tracking platform FlightAware, by mid-morning Saturday, more than 14,400 domestic flights in the US had been cancelled or delayed, mainly in New York. In addition, 2,100 international flights to and from the US were also cancelled.
American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways said they had waived change fees for passengers affected by the severe weather.